"I shall give you hunger, and pain, and sleepless nights. Also beauty, and satisfactions known to few, and glimpses of the heavenly life. None of these you shall have continually, and of their coming and going you shall not be foretold"

The lines by Howard Lindsay evoke the paradoxical yet profound nature of existence, creativity, or any pursuit of passion. Hunger, pain, and sleepless nights describe not only the hardships of a dedicated life but also the sacrifices required when one chooses a path of meaning over comfort. These hardships are not merely physical, but also emotional and mental, suggesting the restlessness that often accompanies intense desire or ambition.

Yet, the bitterness of hunger and pain is balanced by the promise of beauty and rare satisfaction. These are not ordinary pleasures, but moments of transcendence, “glimpses of the heavenly life”, that few experience. Such moments are fleeting, granting a sense of meaning or joy that seems touched by the divine. However, these rewards are intermittent; they cannot be obtained at will, nor are they ever assured as permanent acquisitions. The unpredictability of their arrival and disappearance underscores the elusive nature of fulfillment. The statement “None of these you shall have continually, and of their coming and going you shall not be foretold” speaks to the uncontrollable cycles of suffering and joy, inspiration and exhaustion, that shape a life deeply engaged in meaningful work or love.

Embedded in the passage is an acceptance, even an embrace, of the terms set by such a life. There is humility in understanding that one cannot command beauty, satisfaction, or even relief from pain; these things come unbidden, and their absence must be endured with patience. At the same time, there is an acknowledgment of the privilege and rarity of tasting such joys at all. Lindsay’s words suggest that a worthwhile life is not one of constant comfort or happiness, but one in which moments of hardship and transcendence weave together, each heightening the other. The unpredictability of these experiences becomes part of the richness of living, making both pain and beauty more deeply felt.